Oliveira nets hat-trick in President's Cup romp

Al Jazira may be in unfamiliar territory in the Pro League, playing catch-up to leaders Al Ain, but thanks to a Ricardo Oliveira hat-trick, they ensured it was business as usual in the President’s Cup with a 6-2 win over Ajman at Zabeel Stadium, Dubai, on Monday night. The Brazilian’s treble went hand in hand with a superb performance from young forward Ali Mabkhout, who helped himself to a first-half brace, with Argentine Matias Delgado rounding off the scoring for an in-form Jazira side. Ajamn signalled their intentions with Ibrahim Toure - whose brothers Kolo and Yaya are currently in the UAE training with Ivory Coast ahead of the African Cup of Nations - shooting from the kickoff, and the big Ivorian created what should have been the opening goal for his side after 10 minutes, as his teasing cross was met with a downward header by strike partner Hassan Maatouk, but, with goalkeeper Khaled Essa beaten, Khaled Sabil was in the right position to clear off the line. A minute later Matouk fired in a superb effort from 25 yards, but Essa was equal to it, emphasising the superiority Ajman enjoyed in the opening quarter. Jazira, and Ibrahim Diaky, served a reminder of the threat they posed going forward, as the collected a Ali Mabkhout pass and was within a foot of giving his side an undeserved lead, firing just wide of Ali Rabee’s goal from the edge of the area. And amid furious Ajman protests, Jazira took the lead. A corner wasn’t dealt with properly, and Mabkhout stole in as the Ajman defence looked on, beating Ahmed Ibrahim to the ball, before slotting home. Quite what Ajman’s protests were for is a mystery, but the goal stood, and correctly so. Mabkhout had his - and Jazira’s - second moments later, as he collected Oliveira’s pass, and fired a low 20-yard drive past the despairing dive of Rabee. Provider turned scorer in the 33rd minute, as the UAE U20 international centred for former AC Milan striker Oliveira to tap into an empty net. Out of nothing, Jazira had given themselves a platform to win the game, and Ajman must have been wondering how they let a game which they had complete control of slip from their grasp. They almost found a way back as the first half drew to a close, Toure set up Maatouq for a glorious opening but, with only Essa to beat, the diminutive frontman shot tamely at the Jazira ‘keeper. Maatouk continued his wretched luck after the restart as he directed a header onto the post, before narrowly failing to convert the rebound. On 54 minutes however, the pacy Lebanese frontman finally grabbed the goal he had been threatening all day, curing a neat finish past Essa to give beleaguered Ajman a lifeline. Up the other end, Mabkhout was presented with a glorious chance to take home the match ball, but having been played clean though, he skewed his finish badly wide of the target with a hat trick beckoning. Oliveira was similarly wasteful moments later, raising the question of whether his Jazira side would end up paying for their indiscretions in front of goal. Those questions were put to bed in the 72nd minute, as some unselfish build-up play from Oliviera saw the Brazilian tee up Delgado, and the 29-year-old Argentine made no mistake from eight yards out. The scoreline got worse for Ajman moments later when Delgado unselfishly squared for Oliviera to finish with aplomb. Toure grabbed a consolation for Ajman, before Oliveira netted his hat-trick in injury time to give Jazira, who have 27 Pro League goals already this season, a comprehensive President’s Cup victory. Oliveira nets hat-trick in President's Cup romp Al Jazira may be in unfamiliar territory in the Pro League, playing catch-up to leaders Al Ain, but thanks to a Ricardo Oliveira hat-trick, they ensured it was business as usual in the President’s Cup with a 6-2 win over Ajman at Zabeel Stadium, Dubai, on Monday night. The Brazilian’s treble went hand in hand with a superb performance from young forward Ali Mabkhout, who helped himself to a first-half brace, with Argentine Matias Delgado rounding off the scoring for an in-form Jazira side. Ajamn signalled their intentions with Ibrahim Toure - whose brothers Kolo and Yaya are currently in the UAE training with Ivory Coast ahead of the African Cup of Nations - shooting from the kickoff, and the big Ivorian created what should have been the opening goal for his side after 10 minutes, as his teasing cross was met with a downward header by strike partner Hassan Maatouk, but, with goalkeeper Khaled Essa beaten, Khaled Sabil was in the right position to clear off the line. A minute later Matouk fired in a superb effort from 25 yards, but Essa was equal to it, emphasising the superiority Ajman enjoyed in the opening quarter. Jazira, and Ibrahim Diaky, served a reminder of the threat they posed going forward, as the collected a Ali Mabkhout pass and was within a foot of giving his side an undeserved lead, firing just wide of Ali Rabee’s goal from the edge of the area. And amid furious Ajman protests, Jazira took the lead. A corner wasn’t dealt with properly, and Mabkhout stole in as the Ajman defence looked on, beating Ahmed Ibrahim to the ball, before slotting home. Quite what Ajman’s protests were for is a mystery, but the goal stood, and correctly so. Mabkhout had his - and Jazira’s - second moments later, as he collected Oliveira’s pass, and fired a low 20-yard drive past the despairing dive of Rabee. Provider turned scorer in the 33rd minute, as the UAE U20 international centred for former AC Milan striker Oliveira to tap into an empty net. Out of nothing, Jazira had given themselves a platform to win the game, and Ajman must have been wondering how they let a game which they had complete control of slip from their grasp. They almost found a way back as the first half drew to a close, Toure set up Maatouq for a glorious opening but, with only Essa to beat, the diminutive frontman shot tamely at the Jazira ‘keeper. Maatouk continued his wretched luck after the restart as he directed a header onto the post, before narrowly failing to convert the rebound. On 54 minutes however, the pacy Lebanese frontman finally grabbed the goal he had been threatening all day, curing a neat finish past Essa to give beleaguered Ajman a lifeline. Up the other end, Mabkhout was presented with a glorious chance to take home the match ball, but having been played clean though, he skewed his finish badly wide of the target with a hat trick beckoning. Oliveira was similarly wasteful moments later, raising the question of whether his Jazira side would end up paying for their indiscretions in front of goal. Those questions were put to bed in the 72nd minute, as some unselfish build-up play from Oliviera saw the Brazilian tee up Delgado, and the 29-year-old Argentine made no mistake from eight yards out. The scoreline got worse for Ajman moments later when Delgado unselfishly squared for Oliviera to finish with aplomb. Toure grabbed a consolation for Ajman, before Oliveira netted his hat-trick in injury time to give Jazira, who have 27 Pro League goals already this season, a comprehensive President’s Cup victory.